Well, I just got my first Symphony X album a few weeks ago. As a matter of fact, it was their last album, Iconoclast, since they had it available at the shop and I remember having read some good reviews about it. The thing is, I really like Prog Metal, though at the time the band I know (and like) best is Dream Theater, but I still want to get into some other bands, and as I had read, Symphony X is suposed to be among the strongest bands around. However, the thing is, I really didn't like Iconoclast, I found it almost as just another speed metal album (well, perhaps I don't know so many speed metal albums, anyway), and found little to enjoy about it. So, if there's anyone around who knows Symphony X well enough, should I stop here, or is there some chance that I may like some other album from this band?

My Friend, do not waste your time with Twilight of Olympus. I feel it's like 'filler' in their discography.

Start with Divine Wings of Tragety. It's where the band took off nicely and it Russel Allen's debute. Then, jump to Mythology suite and then get Paradise lost since you already caught iconoclast. Lastly, get the odyssey album. That is all you need my friend.

Symphony X really envoke the spirit of power metal with their prog metal niche. Enjoy. Oh and you'll notice that upon listening to Iconclast it is their heaviest, fastest release yet! A real gem.

My favorites are Divine WIngs of Tragedy, V - The Mythology Suite and The Odyssey. These are albums are more on the PROG side of metal than their latest albums, Paradise Lost and Iconoclast, which I find to be more on the generic side of prog metal. The three I've mentionned above are more varied, have as much keyboards as guitars on them and showcase some excellent songwriting as well as chops.

There is nothing generic about Paradise Lost or Iconoclast. Those are easily their 2 most advanced, technical sounding albums. Fast and furious with some odd metering here and there. I'd almost classify Iconoclast as tech extreme sometimes. Anyway, I feel using the word 'generic' kind of undercuts those efforts by Mr. X

My favorites are Divine WIngs of Tragedy, V - The Mythology Suite and The Odyssey. These are albums are more on the PROG side of metal than their latest albums, Paradise Lost and Iconoclast, which I find to be more on the generic side of prog metal. The three I've mentionned above are more varied, have as much keyboards as guitars on them and showcase some excellent songwriting as well as chops.

"One likes to believe in the freedom of Music" - Neil Peart, The Spirit of Radio

I guess I seem to be alone here in absolutely loving Iconoclast (especially the title track and "When All is Lost").

But if you didn't like it, you might try their earlier stuff, which is a lot less heavy. The Divine Wings of Tragedy is easily my favourite of those; I'd go with that one.

I also love Iconoclast

Yeah Iconoclast is a brilliant album to my ears too, and you are right that the early stuff is slightly less heavy and more neo-classical in nature too. If the topic starter is interested in Dream Theater itīs probably these two thatīll be of most interest:

Symphony X at all, and I enjoy Dream Theater very much. However, the first 5 albums from Pain of Salvation are some of the best Progressive Metal you will find anywhere. Start off with Remedy Lane. I would buy them in this order:1 Remedy Lane2 The Perfect Element Part 13 Be4 One Hour By The Concrete Lake5 Entropia

Indeed I must do that. I hope I can get them this year. Thanks for you recommendation on their albums and order.

You need to try Pain of Salvation. I could not get into
Symphony X at all, and I enjoy Dream Theater very much. However, the first 5 albums from Pain of Salvation are some of the best Progressive Metal you will find anywhere. Start off with Remedy Lane. I would buy them in this order:

1 Remedy Lane2 The Perfect Element Part 13 Be4 One Hour By The Concrete Lake5 Entropia

Iconoclast is just a collection of B-sides from Paradise Lost ... Which is a brilliant album by the way I'd definitely check it out.

Plus the earlier stuff of course.

Other bands you might want to check out as well in the prog-metal realm : Circus Maximus (toured with Symphony X), Klone (The Dreamer's Hideaway is quite good, but it's quite modern, nothing really like old school Dream Theater or Ayreon)

Well, perhaps I'll give it a try to those 3 albums. I'm not really too worried if the whole album isn't great (actually, there's no DT album in which I like all the songs), but with Iconoclast the problem was that I didn't actually like any song. As far as I see it, it's not because it's too heavy, but because there isn't so much going on, and it's not very melodic (for me, heavy and melodic aren't necessarily opposite things). And to think that when I saw Iconoclast on the music store they also had the Odissey one, and I was uncertain for which one to pick... however, when I went to buy it, they didn't have the Odissey anymore. Thanks a lot for your advice. Perhaps I'll try to hear that Odissey song on Youtube.

You didn't even like the song 'When All Is Lost' ?

That's a very melodic song.....

But yes, Iconoclast is their heaviest, most metal album, and Paradise Lost wasn't too far behind that metal-wise.

I'd recommend V: The New Mythology Suite for you to start with then. The keyboards on that album are more prominent than on other Symphony X albums.

Yeah, this is it. Now I have new hope on this band. I guess I'll be checking out the 3 recommended albums. It's only, well, I also want to get into "Pain of Salvation", "Riverside", and "Haken", plus get "Into the Electric Castle" by Ayreon (I already have all the albums that came after that one). Plus some other Prog not Metal albums. But I'll hunt this ones out.

Well, perhaps I'll give it a try to those 3 albums. I'm not really too worried if the whole album isn't great (actually, there's no DT album in which I like all the songs), but with Iconoclast the problem was that I didn't actually like any song. As far as I see it, it's not because it's too heavy, but because there isn't so much going on, and it's not very melodic (for me, heavy and melodic aren't necessarily opposite things). And to think that when I saw Iconoclast on the music store they also had the Odissey one, and I was uncertain for which one to pick... however, when I went to buy it, they didn't have the Odissey anymore. Thanks a lot for your advice. Perhaps I'll try to hear that Odissey song on Youtube.

You didn't even like the song 'When All Is Lost' ?

That's a very melodic song.....

But yes, Iconoclast is their heaviest, most metal album, and Paradise Lost wasn't too far behind that metal-wise.

I'd recommend V: The New Mythology Suite for you to start with then. The keyboards on that album are more prominent than on other Symphony X albums.

Well, perhaps I'll give it a try to those 3 albums. I'm not really too worried if the whole album isn't great (actually, there's no DT album in which I like all the songs), but with Iconoclast the problem was that I didn't actually like any song. As far as I see it, it's not because it's too heavy, but because there isn't so much going on, and it's not very melodic (for me, heavy and melodic aren't necessarily opposite things). And to think that when I saw Iconoclast on the music store they also had the Odissey one, and I was uncertain for which one to pick... however, when I went to buy it, they didn't have the Odissey anymore. Thanks a lot for your advice. Perhaps I'll try to hear that Odissey song on Youtube.

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